How to create a Known Folder or special fodler

I'm on creating an application like DropBox regarding that I have a requirement of creating a special folder like Favorites, Downloads, Links, Quick access etc. Which can be pinned to the left pane of the file explorer as a separate menu item. This article says that such folders are known as special folders and are having a unique identifier called KNOWNFOLDERID. Is there any possibility to create such folders. Which can be pinned to the left pane as a separate menu, not under Favorites links or user-Profile.

sujith karivelil

Posted 2016-08-01T04:40:08.117

Reputation: 131

Yes. You can create shell objects pointing to a real folder. The shell folder can then be pinned to Navigation pane. Namespace extensions for the Windows Explorer folder pane and MSDN

– w32sh – 2016-08-01T07:08:21.107

Add a Custom Folder in Explorer Navigation Pane under "This PC"? – w32sh – 2016-08-01T07:19:30.237

@w32sh : It is creating under "This pc" as its node, I want to create it as another root like "This PC", like Dropbox, Google Drive etc – sujith karivelil – 2016-08-01T07:21:57.587

Answers

Pinning a custom shell folder (as a separate node) can be using System.IsPinnedtoNameSpaceTree DWORD setting it to 1. (Reference)

Here is another example, Pin Google Drive to Nav Pane.

Note that System.IsPinnedtoNameSpaceTree DWORD works in Windows 10. In earlier versions you use PinToNameSpaceTree REG_SZ.

Windows 8 and higher

HKCR\CLSID\{custom-guid}

Set System.IsPinnedToNameSpaceTree DWORD to 1

Earlier versions of Windows

HKCR\CLSID\{custom-guid}\ShellFolder

Create PinToNameSpaceTree REG_SZ with blank value data.

w32sh

Posted 2016-08-01T04:40:08.117

Reputation: 8 611

Well, Sounds good. But how do i know the custom-guid of my folder? if i choose one, something like {7D98A6CB-2154-E611-85C7-FFA2AB800CE8} where do i register it as guid for this folder? – sujith karivelil – 2016-08-02T00:55:28.047

Use this link as an example. It's the custom GUID you generate using the GUIDGen.exe tool or via www.guidgen.com.

– w32sh – 2016-08-02T05:37:20.880

But where do i specify this GUID stands for that particular folder? – sujith karivelil – 2016-08-02T05:43:05.033

In the registry TargetFolderPath value points to your folder.

– w32sh – 2016-08-02T05:47:23.773

I don't understand what do you mean by "Is there any possibility to create such folders from my application?" Are you trying to create special folders from your application or inside your application?

However, if you want to create such folders in Windows and also the created folders can be pinned to left pane of the file explorer.

Please visit this sevenforum link.

Thank you.

Animesh Patra

Posted 2016-08-01T04:40:08.117

Reputation: 2 188

Well now the symbolic link is created under the current user in the left pane. I want to create it as a separate menu – sujith karivelil – 2016-08-01T05:11:03.553

What you want is to customize the Windows Explorer. Which Windows do not allows. So I'm sorry to say that creating a separate folder like Dropbox, Google Drive is not possible, or at least still unknown to me, cause that requires by adding values to the registry and also the attributes too. You can add folder to Quick Access, network shortcuts or under current user but nothing else. Please visit this link: Add Folder by Value Thank you.

– Animesh Patra – 2016-08-01T06:36:47.000